Come All-Star time, Toronto may be awash with claret & blue...and it almost certainly won't be due to an influx of Rapids supporters. A little birdy from ESPN named Kristian Dyer tells me that MLS is close to announcing that the opponent for the 2008 MLS All Star Game will be English Premier League club West Ham. How do you say "Cockney hell" in Canadian?
A source within the league who wished not to be identified confirmed to Dyer that the Hammers will be the third English club to participate in the mid-summer match. After the two previous EPL victims -Fulham in 2005 and Chelsea in 2006- fell at the feet of the MLS best XI, 2007 was spent spanking Celtic. Also of note is that this year's event will be the first All-Star game held outside the United States.
Now, our guy also tells me that Liverpool was on the radar but the club's recent bout of bad, uneven play -and subsequent uncertain status in the league standings- led to unease within the league office concerning their availability; word is that Liverpool wanted to commit after the EPL season had concluded but this would compromise the league's ability to adequately promote the game. So MLS said no and made a call to East London.
West Ham, although less of a marquee of a team then some of the recent guest clubs to participate in the event, does feature a number of international players who are better than you; Swedish international Freddie Ljungberg, English midfielder Kieron Dyer, Peruvian standout winger Nolberto Solano, Portuguese international Luis Boa Morte and versatile American defender Jonathan Spector and are all on the payroll. So keep an eye out (and a credit card handy) for confirmation on the deal over the next two weeks.
Are you down with West Ham as an opponent? Who do you think the All-Star's should play? Let it be known in the comments.
31 comments:
Put it this way. I would have sacrificed a lamb to make it to the game if it was against Liverpool. But I'll watch West Ham from my couch with my good friend mary jane instead.
That is unless anyone wants to plan a road trip from Boston to Toronto.
yawn. at least celtic plays champions league every year, what has west ham done recently???
I would rather see Fulhamerica make the crossing, especially since the game is in Canuckistan. But, West Ham will do nicely.
EAST VS WEST!
boo - the idea is that it ssupposed to be a big club. Even TFC friendly against Aston Villa was a better match up. apart from the big 4 - i would prefer to see everton, man city, tottenham, or prtsmouth. although west ham is in top half of table - they are not a very exciting or entertaining team.
Akasha - GO TFC!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How about no All-Star Game? ok, ok, so it's a good way to make a quick buck and it's an "American Tradition."
Try this one: MLS v Brazil (or insert international team of choice)
Holy Weaksauce!! All this talk of Liverpool and Arsenal and we get West Ham. Debbie Downer. I was planning on gettting my passport ready. Think I'll just watch it in my apt. now. Why not Barcelona? We all know they're coming here this summer. Madrid is too. I don't get it. I think River Plate or Boca Juniors would have been good too. Give some of our big name imports a chance to play against their beloved teams again in a great atmosphere. Oh well...what else do you expect from MLS bigs wigs.
I doubt there will be any tickets available for this game as TFC season ticket holders, and there are 16000 of us, got first crack last fall. If 90% of these fans took advantage of this offer and each MLS team is entitled to 500 seats our little 21K stadium will be already sold out. I guess scalpers will have tickets but for the most part I think this one is already sold out.
I get making sure you get a game againat an international opponent and making some money, but an ASG mid-season againat these foreign clubs that don't want to lose to the "Americans" is never a good idea. It should be relaxed and fun, a way to show off tricks, etc., like the NBA or MLB. I'm all for going back to East/West or going US vs Int'l or something.
Come on land of Moose and Doughnuts - up off your couch - on with your skipants and embrace Football from the Centre of the Universe
Any Prem or Championship side should be welcomed with open arms - they are the best Leagues in the World
Luckily the WHU Academy are famous for the production of some great players, even in recent times
Ferdinans Cole Lampard Defoe Johnson Carrick are just a few that cut their teeth in claret and blue
See ya there if you dare
im west ham till i die im west ham till i die i no i am im sure of it im west ham till i die
if we had a full 11 it would be
green
RB:neil AUS(c)(int)
CB:anton ferdinand ENG(U21)
upson ENG(int)
Mccartney NI(int)
RM:dyer ENG injured(int)
CM:noble ENG(U21
CM:parker ENG former(int)
LM:ljungberg SWE(c)(int)
CF:ashton ENG(int)broke leg on duty
CF:bellamy WAL(c)(int)
now that isnt a bad team will give ulot a very hard game come on you irons
oh and i forgot to mention if we can do beat man u 3 times in a row i think we can beat the american 11
Why the fvk does it always have to be a UK team, specially in recent years, if you can't get any of the to 4 teams in the EPL there's also AC Milan, Inter Milan, JUVENTUS, Barca, Real Madrid etc etc.
There aren't even any good players in the MLS.
Anonymous 11:33 said...
"There aren't even any good players in the MLS."
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You are high and or blind. Landon, Becks, Angel, Blanco, Rolfe, Altidore, Schelotto, DeRosario,Altidore, Emilio, Boswell (who has scored on both Chelsea and Celtic I might add...not too bad for a defender) are ALL good players. Please think about what you're saying before you speak.
I am a West Ham supporter who goes to every home game and most away games. Did you no-nothings not see the FA Cup final 2006 against Liverpool ? It was one of the best finals ever thanks to West Ham United. The hammers are unpredictable and perform well against the big teams. We have beaten Man Utd and Liverpool this season and did the double over Arsenal last year. You want boring football ?? Then get Tottenham or Everton (or one of the big four) but if you want a good game of football then it's West Ham you want
Hmmm ... the West Ham - Liverpool FA Cup final in 2006? That was before the Hammers were one Carlitos away from relegation last year, right?
While there isn't a single player on West Ham anyone would go out of their way to see play in person, their supporters are great and would likely provide a great atmosphere for the match ... if they can get tickets.
Trust me, we will get tickets
HAHAHAHA- Loving this:
"boo - the idea is that it ssupposed to be a big club"
Beeing a yank you obviously have no idea what a "big club" is, so kindly shut it. After all, we won the fucking world cup, what has America done on the world stage? frankly the MLS is a retirement area, full of crap players. Oh done get me wrong, Becks WAS reall good- past his prime now, and Landen Donovon? frankly id rather play that cunt Jermain than him, yes hes quick, but not Sears-pace.
Oh and weve got that boy in clarot and blue, Noble, who, frankly, would drop straight into most Premiership sides, let alone MLS sides.
And remember you are picking the "best" from your MLS, and this is probably there only oppertunity to get on TV and hopefully move to a european club, whereas the boys that go there know its basically a jumped up pre-season friendly, and wont risk getting injured. Come and play Celtic/Chelski/The mighty hammers when there competative and you will actually get raped.
This thread sure brought out the best and brightest West Ham supporters didn't it?
MLS 4- Fulham 0
MLS 1- Chelsea 0
MLS 2- Celtic 0
The Isles have not even been able to score against MLS, never mind "Rape" it.
What is Westham but a tired and poor and aged club staggering into Night sans teeth, sans sight, sans hope, sans Carlito...:)
You people don't know what you're talking about. West Ham is a fine club and look, don't gloat about winning against British teams in the middle of their off season, just back from laying on a beach, when you're in mid-season form playing your very best players. Your 'all-star' game is tantamount to a pre-season NFL game to an EPL team. So chill. Just prepare Toronto for the East London Cockney Boys. Trust me, blokes, you're not ready.
What is wrong with you numpys? You should consider yourselves LUCKY to have such an established club visiting your "no history" team full of English league rejects. Liverpool.....lolercaust.
Some of the comments on here really show American followers of the beautiful game to be somewhat ignorant.
West Ham United IS a big club. It has produced some of the world's best players over the years, and several of those playing in the forthcoming Champions League final (do you know what that is?) have worn the famous claret and blue.
You should consider yourselves fortunate to have the opportunity to see West Ham live.
For further information on the club, please visit www.westhamonline.net, where you will be assured of a polite and helpful welcome.
Having a recognizable, big club like West Ham come play is a big deal - I think what you're seeing here is a bit of disappointment after all rumors pointed to Liverpool coming over...which, is what you can expect since West Ham doesn't share the same band-wagoning fans that the big 4 have in this country.
What a wanka. West Ham is one of the biggest and most important clubs in the EPL, thus the world. Oi wanka, have you ever heard of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters (winner of a World Cup), Frank Lampard Sr. & Jr., Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Anton Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe, Glenn Johnson, Jimmy Bullard, Mark Noble, Freddy Sears, and yes even John Terry had a stint with us? Have you heard of these players? They all came through the West Ham Youth Academy, thus West Ham developed them. Around the world, we are known for that, and that brings West Ham great pretige. As for West Ham (Dean Ashton, Craig Bellamy, Kieren Dyer, Freddy Lunjgberg, Lucas Neal, Scott Parker, Matthew Upson, RObert Green, etc.) playing against the MLS All Stars, you're lucky. I don't mind that you don't know these facts (most MLS Yanks don;t have a clue about footy), but don't disrespect a club with rich history in the sport of football and not expect a bit of backlash. Hey, maybe the ICF will be visiting you soon. Cheers
we will be comeing soon ICF
I find it funny that West Ham are not a good enough team for the vast majority of people who have posted comments. Very funny that many comment on what a substandard team they are and how your "all stars" (So called because they are all of the stars in the whole of the MLS) should be playing a team like Liverpool. Why not make it really interesting and pick a premier league all star team. Score prediction for that??? I'd say 12-0 to the premier leaguers . . . . by half time!
It was exciting because West ham fans said it would be so easy to defeat MLS team but it wasn't because MLS is the best.
Maybe the best tattoo I've ever seen, someday I will put one like this on myself. Any Ideas ?
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